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NEW DELHI: India ratcheted up its diplomatic campaign to target Pakistan as a ‘terrorist state’ on Tuesday and the immediate casualty may be Islamabad’s Saarc summit, with Kabul’s envoy in New Delhi not ruling out a boycott.

“We have to make sure that we bring the maximum number of countries and I am sure most South Asian countries are in line with what we think. Therefore, the effort should be comprehensive and we should single out a country that spoils our unity and regional peace,” Afghan Ambassador Dr Shaida Mohammad Abdali told NDTV.

He was asked if India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan should come together to boycott the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit to be held in November.

India has leaned on Bhutan in the past to delay or postpone Saarc summits in its shadow boxing with Pakistan. Given the possibility of a less enthusiastic response from key western nations to its diplomatic campaign to censure Pakistan, a regional showdown may seem an attractive backup.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh are said to have an axe to grind with Pakistan over its alleged harbouring of groups they consider inimical.

Doubts emerge about Saarc summit to be held in Islamabad in November

Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level review meeting in New Delhi where National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior intelligence officers were present. This is the third security meeting that the home minister has held in three days, reports say.

In Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) received blood and other samples from the bodies of four suspected terrorists, who had attacked the army base on Sunday and killed 18 soldiers before being shot dead in a three-hour gun battle.

Reports said that the army would hand over to the NIA weapons, ammunition, maps and GPS sets the terrorists had carried, as the investigation agency pieces together the identity of the terrorists and retraces the route they allegedly took to infiltrate into India.

Investigators are reported to have found that the markings on weapons and food recovered from the terrorists establish a clear Pakistani link. The NIA would send the GPS sets to the United States to investigate exactly where they came from, reports said.

At a meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed a multi-layered response to the Uri attack with his top minsters and gave the go-ahead to diplomatically isolate Pakistan at all international forums.

Hours later, in a strong message at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, India told Pakistan to “cleanse itself of terrorists” and said that the freedom that terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin enjoyed in that country showed its “active support for such personalities.”

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar’s presence at Tuesday’s meeting with Home Minister Singh is said to signal India’s plan to keep up the pressure at the diplomatic front. Junior Foreign Minister M.J. Akbar will raise the Uri attack issue at a meeting of foreign ministers in New York on Wednesday.

Mr Jaishankar rushed back from Vienna from where he was scheduled to go straight to New York for the UN General Assembly, where Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to speak on Monday.

She is expected to raise the Uri attack issue in her speech and highlight Pakistan’s alleged role in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

Talking to NDTV about the possibility of a Saarc summit boycott, Mr Abdali said, “Any measure that brings peace, stability and unity to the region should not be ruled out”. He said that all Saarc nations should be consulted on this.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani spoke to Mr Modi in the morning and conveyed his country’s support to India in the aftermath of Sunday’s attack on the Uri army base.

In tough words for Pakistan, Mr Abdali was quoted as saying: “There must be zero tolerance. It must end. We have seen the signs of terrorism becoming much more lethal and very systematic.”

The ambassador said that it was an issue of state-sponsored terrorism. “It is no more an issue of non-state actors that we have been hearing about. Now we have ample proof of state- sponsored terrorism.”

“We have to draw a line between a country that sponsors terrorism and a country that is an ally in the war against terrorism. This difference must be made and should be made immediately,” the envoy said.

Comments (105) Closed

I'm waiting for a day, this country will announce 'zero tolerance against terrorism'

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Desi Dimag

Sep 21, 2016 09:03am

Very right step by India.

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Indian

Sep 21, 2016 09:13am

Something unbiased coming from Pakistani media. Well done Dawn

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INDIAN ARMY

Sep 21, 2016 09:14am

life of 18 dead soldier will not go in vain...jai hind

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hamid

Sep 21, 2016 09:20am

Pakistan wake up

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Pink

Sep 21, 2016 09:21am

Zero tolerance to terrorism will only bring peace to this region

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rajdeep

Sep 21, 2016 09:22am

Congrats Dawn. This article is unbiased and gives a true picture. Rest of what has come out in Pakistani newspapers are just hogwash.

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Aman

Sep 21, 2016 09:25am

If more than 700k of Indian forces in IHK and in Afghanistan, even NATO forces with latest weapons, can't seal their border and can't protect its strategic assets. Than world wants from Pakistan do their JOB! Woe thats a great understanding and rational.
Each Pakistani and Our Armed Forces have done and will do their best to protect each inch of Pakistan.
A true student of history clearly knows who have created what! With simple understand of politics, it can be summed up as 'Great Game of Power'.
Time will tell who is right. Mind you all, any kind of misadventures will make this region HISTORY. Long live Pakistan

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Mujahid Hussain

Sep 21, 2016 09:28am

our defense forces should be made alert to meet any eventuality.

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Alwin James

Sep 21, 2016 09:38am

Good to see a very unbiased news.

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Insaf

Sep 21, 2016 09:45am

Very matured and good step by Indian govt.

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M Waj

Sep 21, 2016 09:45am

The Great War on terror was started against Afghanistan and their president is blaming Pakistan for terrorism.

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Hamid shafiq

Sep 21, 2016 09:48am

Pakistan should leave SAARC for ever its useless and waste of time.

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Hindu

Sep 21, 2016 09:50am

1000 Salute to Dawn . The best news paper of the world . Indian news paper should learn . Regards to Dawn team.

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Aniket Rastogi

Sep 21, 2016 10:06am

Applaud you dawn for your unbiased news reporting....

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hameed

Sep 21, 2016 10:13am

@Hamid shafiq .............totally agree with you... we should try to join the likes of EU, P5, G4 etc...we certainly have the credentials....

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khan

Sep 21, 2016 10:13am

Timings tells who did and who gained from Uri incident . SARC I'd. Dead.

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Reader

Sep 21, 2016 10:18am

This is the reality.

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Reader

Sep 21, 2016 10:24am

SAARC is a defunct organization and nothing came out of it. Let's bury it forever

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SHARMAJI

Sep 21, 2016 10:42am

I personally congratulate Dawn for the article, In this world there should
No place for violence and terrorism (good or bad )in any country.
Peace from India

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Sehan

Sep 21, 2016 11:01am

SAARC is an absolute Useless Organization.

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DK

Sep 21, 2016 11:16am

Dawn Your this article shows this news agency of pak is liberal in its truth expression n unbiased. That's why we Indians come n read dawn newspaper over any other newspaper of Pakistan.

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Abdul

Sep 21, 2016 11:15am

More to come. Some nations are heading towards isolation, humiliation and sanctions.

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D.K. PAMNANI (proud Indian)

Sep 21, 2016 11:17am

saarc - a joke - now a days

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Raj kumar

Sep 21, 2016 11:25am

@Hamid shafiq thank you sir,we poor people of south Asia will thank you from the bottom of our hearts if you unilaterally withdraw to leave the balance of us to work together.

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Umair

Sep 21, 2016 11:51am

@ Abdul Modi: Time will tell who is actually going towards humiliation.

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point of view

Sep 21, 2016 12:29pm

Thank you for reporting unbiased story. I must say, Dawn reporting is fearless.

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Merwais Khan

Sep 21, 2016 01:48pm

I think after 1-2 years even Afghanistan image will be better than Pakistan if things goes like this.

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Imran Soomro

Sep 21, 2016 02:02pm

@INDIAN ARMY And what about the lives of innocent Kashmiris fighting for their fundamental rights like you and we did during colonial rule?

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Raunak

Sep 21, 2016 02:02pm

@Sehan .. first US, now SAARC, a little later you will call UN also an useless organisation

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Timeto stopthis

Sep 21, 2016 02:18pm

@Raunak As a matter of fact, the UN is useless.

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Vivek (Indore)

Sep 21, 2016 02:21pm

Glad to see our neighbors Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan standing with us. We'll together wipe out terrorism from South Asia.

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Dr. Farooq Khan

Sep 21, 2016 02:22pm

Well, that's bad.

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ABRAR KASHMIRI

Sep 21, 2016 02:33pm

Very correct

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true minds

Sep 21, 2016 02:59pm

Unbiased.. Salute to you Dawn.

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Haider

Sep 21, 2016 03:18pm

Brutal occupation, most militarised zone in the world, civilian deaths, months long curfews, indigenous struggle for freedom.
Thats what India is trying to cover up, succesful it may be, in the short-term but the odds are heavily stacked against such a deceitful policy, truth and freedom shell prevail.

Pakistan Zindabad!

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aslam

Sep 21, 2016 03:28pm

We must rebuff such move with strong force

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aslam

Sep 21, 2016 03:28pm

@Dheeraj Its move against Pakistan

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aslam

Sep 21, 2016 03:28pm

@Desi Dimag It will be taken care of

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aslam

Sep 21, 2016 03:28pm

@INDIAN ARMY pakistan zindabad

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atif

Sep 21, 2016 03:35pm

@Raunak

well, i have served with UN. in my view it is just like english prefix of 'un'. does nothing except for protection of interests of big stakeholders. had UN been effective, it would have pressed for plebiscite promised by none other than nehru

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Faizan

Sep 21, 2016 03:43pm

Pakistan must change its foreign policy asap as it is costing us heavily. First of all there is a need to deal with the treacherous and unthankful afghanis who need to be kicked out and secondly appointment of a well seasoned diplomat as a foreign minister to intercept Indian aggression as the PM is unfit for that job.

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Aqdas

Sep 21, 2016 03:57pm

SAARC is ...........actually what ? did it contribute anything for Pak?

Leave it.....But if India does terrorism via Afghanistan it is ok apparently...mukti bahni from history is also ok because india did it....We will not accept being pushed around by a thug and their minions......Seal the border with the Afghan ...Silence no more....

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Parjanya Roy

Sep 21, 2016 03:59pm

Great to read an unbiased article

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Zulfiqar Ali

Sep 21, 2016 04:06pm

@Aman do agree with your each and every words u said here
actually Frustrations of all these are over CPEC which will be the game changer

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Sohail Khan Gem

Sep 21, 2016 04:44pm

These useless efforts couldn't isolated Pakistan.

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Abrar Ali

Sep 21, 2016 05:03pm

@shweta how about India declares zero policy of killing innocent Kashmir people

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Zameer

Sep 21, 2016 05:04pm

Best thing is for Pakistan and India to leave our Kashmir and mind your own business

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S P Das

Sep 21, 2016 05:11pm

The Dawn is objective, unbiased and mercilessly neutral.

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Iftikhar Husain

Sep 21, 2016 05:20pm

It is a shame that India is behaving like this after all that killing of innocent people of Kashmir. If the people of kashmir wants to decide their future they must be given an option. Stop killing innocent people.

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Skeptic

Sep 21, 2016 05:51pm

Pakistan has very few friends in the neighborhood, but for an India - which aspires to be a global power to rival the US, China and EU - this unbridled obsession with Pakistan, and PR stunts are appallingly short-sighed, immature and unsustainable and in sharp contrast with the image India likes to create for itself around the world.

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arun

Sep 21, 2016 05:55pm

Right step by India.

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Akil Akhtar

Sep 21, 2016 06:01pm

India is loosing Kashmir thus becoming very aggressive and the hate filled countries are coming together....

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Akil Akhtar

Sep 21, 2016 06:01pm

We need to teach Afghans a lesson...how long we are going to hear from our politicians they are our brothers....

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Indian

Sep 21, 2016 06:15pm

@Akil Akhtar oh really ? Good, feel comfortable and be happy.

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Musarrat Javed

Sep 21, 2016 06:19pm

@Zameer very true

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ilyas

Sep 21, 2016 06:23pm

@INDIAN ARMY No body life should go in vain including Indian army soldiers and the Kashmirs being killed in Indian held Kashmir. Both are condemn-able. Both countries blame each other and are not solving the internal problems. Pakistan is not bringing the protesting mobs on the streets in Kashmir. People themselves are coming. Both the countries should not stop negotiating even they are fruitless. The only solution is talks and more talks and relax movements of people across the borders. I have very good Indian friends and feels no difference when interacting with them.

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Faisal

Sep 21, 2016 06:48pm

A country that is commiting mass human rights abuses, killing 100 of innocent kashmiris, blinding several hundred children and youth with pallet guns speaks shamelessly against terrorism and blaming others. I dont have words for the level of hypocrisy portraulyed by India

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Raja Khalid

Sep 21, 2016 06:53pm

There is always something to learn from the past, this region needs peace more than ever before. Pakistan itself is fighting against terrorism, behold all the warmongers War is not the option.

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Iftikhar hussain

Sep 21, 2016 06:56pm

Here is what i think and implore all of you to think rationally. Ask these questions..
Why would Pakistan attack Indian military base when it was ready to show India's real face to the World in United Nation? Also, If it's true that Pakistan sent those militants then why would Pakistan send Pakistani made weapons or food or clothing or any other items that would point back to Pakistan?

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Objective View

Sep 21, 2016 07:02pm

India has two clear choices:
1. Hold plebiscite in occupied Kashmir and allow the people of Kashmir to decide whether they want to be Indipendent, with Pakistan, or indeed with India. This will resolve all issues between India and Pakistan peacefully. OR,

Continue with its policy of isolating Pakistan (roping in the paid for Afghan leaders and politicians on The Hill) and continue to provoke and bully which will ultimately leading up was ans violence and death of innocent people. This may well be what India and US want to satisify there bloodlust, of course, clocked under some false justification.

As a regional power with aspiration to be global power, India needs to behave as such. But I fear that they will not rise to it.

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M.Jamal

Sep 21, 2016 07:08pm

All biased propoganda.India killed more than 100 unarmed people and fired pellets on 10000s of Kashmiris and say we didn't do anything and they are all terrorists.Do any democratic country in this world deal like this with their citizens.

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George

Sep 21, 2016 07:07pm

@Dheeraj what about the terrorism emanating from the world's largest 'democracy '?

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Ghaznavi

Sep 21, 2016 07:08pm

Allowing Afghanistan in SARC was a mistake. This country does not belong to SARC

India's unhealth obsession with a smaller Pakistan is very unbecoming for an aspiring 'World Power' and shows its insecurities.

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Iftikhar ali

Sep 21, 2016 07:44pm

This is positive step to play hard ball through diplomacy at least not war and lost of innocent people. But also realize India has and is doing everything to declare Pakistan a failed state. Recently after CPEC signing they are now coming up with these games of attacks from Pakistan to destabalize the image globally. Being Pakistani I know there are many thing done wrong in my country but to blame every attack in India is just stupid. I think India cannot control problems in Kashmir, they have occupied it for 60 years and still Kashmiris hate them. So please be balanced when treating Pakistan. Cutting diplomatic ties will only make situation worst.

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hamza khan

Sep 21, 2016 07:58pm

just as a side note to all indians here, the US or china will not allow this to happen. even though the US differs in tactics currently with pakistan, it cannot afford to strategically isolate it, because it allows china way more leverage in the strategic straits of hormuz. indians need to settle down. your PM thinks he's very smart. we're 3 steps ahead of him.

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The end is near

Sep 21, 2016 08:05pm

Great work india, You are hitting the nail on the head. keep it up. Thumbs Up for you.

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R.K.

Sep 21, 2016 08:06pm

A very well written article indeed.

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Syed Ahmed

Sep 21, 2016 08:24pm

Why is Afghanistan even in SAARC? Who allowed that?

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sam

Sep 21, 2016 09:05pm

Any measure that stop terrorism whether economically, diplomatically and militarily should be taken

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Iqbal Khan

Sep 21, 2016 09:15pm

If sanity prevails all problems can be solved. Leadership of both countries need to look in the root causes of these off and on uprisings. If Germany and France, arch rivals in the past of two world wars, can solve their problems amicably, why not Pakistan and India do the same.

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anony

Sep 21, 2016 09:17pm

An attempt by India to divert the world's attention from the attrocities it is committing in Kashmir.

Pakistan will stand strong as always.

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sam

Sep 21, 2016 09:20pm

@zulfiqat ali, @aman. CPEC. You and your next generation have to pay that huge amount of loan.

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Abhishek

Sep 21, 2016 10:03pm

Thanks to dawn.

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Bipul

Sep 21, 2016 10:17pm

Modi will be known for eradicating terrorism from south asia. Great steps so far.

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Nagaraj Kura

Sep 21, 2016 10:17pm

@Indian I fell Dawn is a good News Paper who are more factual than most of the other Media News .

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Dhakkan number 1

Sep 21, 2016 10:48pm

@Akil Akhtar History is witness that no force on earth can teach a lesson to our Afghan brothers. Period.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 21, 2016 10:56pm

What a serious joke?

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Habib

Sep 22, 2016 01:00am

@Raunak
UN is a useless organization. Only works for Big Powers.

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saqib ali soomro

Sep 22, 2016 01:32am

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

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Merchant

Sep 22, 2016 01:52am

@INDIAN ARMY "life of 18 dead soldier will not go in vain...jai hind". Life of 100 Kashmiris will not go in vain either... Pakistan Zindabad.

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Omar

Sep 22, 2016 02:21am

Who cares of SAARC, we should pull out of this collection of poor countries! such a joke.

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Rajesh

Sep 22, 2016 04:02am

Appreciate this news in the real spirit of journalism and free speech.

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Ad(ha)na(a)n

Sep 22, 2016 09:35am

@sam it's incredible how naive people are, they don't understand basic accounting, check will cost the government of Pakistan far more than what they will get from it

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Li-N-Ja

Sep 22, 2016 11:41am

Why cant we learn from India & China how to leave in peace without interfering in each other's internal matters, inspite of having differences?

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alok

Sep 22, 2016 03:33pm

@Aman A true student of history does not understand that their are other ways to hurt using other than tank and missile. perhaps, it's time to move from history to economics.

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Mustafa R.

Sep 22, 2016 04:16pm

Both Baniyas and the Zionists believe in one thing, if you repeat a lie a thousand times it becomes a truth. Chant away.

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Tirath Pune

Sep 22, 2016 05:09pm

This is smart. send the GPS to USA for analysis.

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Amanullah Khan

Sep 22, 2016 05:56pm

We must realize that our foreign policy has not been up to the mark in recent times. Most of our neighbors have changed their stance against Pakistan because of hectic and covert efforts of Modi Sarkar. I feel ashamed on Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have become the puppets and speak in India's tone.

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Mustafa R.

Sep 22, 2016 06:40pm

A party that willfully destroys evidence is on very shaky legal grounds. What India needs to provide is DNA not the phone. India has always shied away from providing DNA but it would sink their theories about attackers being from Pakistan.

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Mustafa R.

Sep 22, 2016 06:44pm

@Dheeraj;

'It is drive against terrorism, no matters where it comes from...'

What about all those killed for eating beef, why is that not terrorism?

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Alla Bux

Sep 22, 2016 07:54pm

@Mustafa R. That is law and order problem.

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Agha Ata

Sep 22, 2016 08:02pm

Folks, this time, Pakistan is in real trouble.

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Bilal Elahi

Sep 22, 2016 08:51pm

Pakistan should leave SAARC. Its a waste of time. Instead focus on connectivity with China via CPEC and include Iran which has the ability to pump money to make things work. The rest, India, Afghanistan and Banlga will fall in line.

A childish nation India is it has no stature to be world paper.no dignity. China has immense historical legacy. What has India got if you take the Moguls out of the equation.....Indians can live in fools,paradise if they think they can compete!

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Singh

Sep 23, 2016 10:38am

America does not need Pakistan anymore. Learn a lesson that do not be a poodle of America. The most untrustworthy country is America.

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Zak

Sep 23, 2016 02:21pm

@Dheeraj then lets first start in Indian occupied Kashmir.

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IP

Sep 23, 2016 02:53pm

Dawn should be complimented for presenting vision of both sides of the coin comprehensively. Great Work Dawn.